Module 1

The Problem with government

anarchy

mass disorder and violence caused by failure to agree on a common means of government; part of the human predicament

aristocracy

rule based on distinguished or wise ancestors

autocracy

one of the four approaches to government; it sees people as children in need of the control provided by the government

Bill of Rights

the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, intended to protect individual and state rights; added to the constitution in response to anti-federalist concerns about excessive power of the national government

Classical republicanism

one of the four approaches to government; it sees human nature as mostly good but corruptible, so government should have restricted poor and try to encourage virtuous behavior in its citizens

Competing factions

groups that, in a state of anarchy, fight for supreme power and control; part of the human predicament cycle

divine rights of kings

political theoray that royal lines are established by God and that kings rule by divine decree

European Enlightenment

17th and 18th century philosophical movement that hightlighted the capacity of human beings to discover truth through the exercise of reason. Some thinkers such as Adam Smith proposed self interest, rather than Greek or Christian virtue, as the motivating force in human behavior

Freedom

Greek freedom—the privilege og taking part in the political process

Individual freedom—self sovereignity, autonomy, being in charge of one’s own life

Good society

a reasonably stable and prosperous society without oppressive tyranny. Usually includes peace respect, vibrant culture and personal freedom

Human nature

the fundamental character of human beings that determines their behavior

Human predicament

the cycle from tyranny to revolution to anarchy to competing factions, arising out of government’s capacity to do great harm

Liberalism

one of the four approaches to government; it takes the most positive view of human nature an believes government is needed to protect good people frm the corrupting influences of instituitons

Libertarianism

one of the four approaches to government; it sees individual freedom as the most important value and believes governments primary function should be to protect that freedom

Political legitimacy

justification or sanction for government beyond sheer necessity; legitimacy may be derived from divine right, wisdom, consent, etc

Revolution

an uprising to remove a tyrant from power; part of the human predicament cycle

Social compact

the concept of a group of autonomous individuals living in a state of nature, making a common agreement about the sort of political world they want to live in

Sovereignty

ultimate political power; having the final say

State of nature

a hypothetical condition assumed to exist in the absence of government where human beings live in complete freedom and general equality

structure

rules, restrictions and organizing systems designed to better harness virtue

theocracy

divinely inspired rule or rule by religion

tyranny

absolute power centralized in a person or small group, resulting in oppression of ordinary people; part of the human predicament

virtues (greek v christian)

greek—-civic qualities including wisdom, courage, temperance and justice

christian—inner qualities: meekness, patience, humility, long suffering, compassion, love

four approaches to government

1. autocracy

2. classical republicanism

3. libertarianism

4. liberalism

stages of the human predicament

tyranny

revolution

anarchy

competing factions

REPEAT